The rude but polite works of Mohsin Shafi

April 5, 20180149

Text | Mariam Qureshi

Visuals | Courtesy Mohsin Shafi

Mohsin Shafi’s work doesn’t whine – it is crafty and an eloquent critique on what irks the artist about the society he lives in. The frustration and bitterness that he expresses in his work is enhanced when he travels abroad and is exposed to societies, which in his vision are bohemian and free spirited. What is fantastic about his work is that it is beautiful and grotesque at the same time. He makes fun and uses dark elements to depict relevant issues of society. His titles are a part of his concepts and art. They are poignant and interesting in their relevance to what he wants to critique in his art. His work is a paradox of being polite and rude at the same time. His work doesn’t avoid being pretty but his work is jarring in its commentary and the elements he uses can be dark and grotesque. The frames are opulent and heavily decorated with unusually gaudy colors. In his words “they are a mockery of all that is chaotic and hypocritical about the society.”…